How to Handle a Heretic - 2 John 8; 10-11

It's another thing to preach at a different gospel that can determine the trajectory of someone's life that did ultimately lead to either have or how J surprise you to learn that God is assigned to every Christian responsibility to be alert defending speaking the truth. This is not something we wordsmith his life and wisdom from the heart. We take God's word very seriously. In our Bible teacher, Stephen Devi teaches that as faithfully as he can. That's because in the Bible we find life and when we stray from God's word. The result is death. Today Stephen has an important lesson for you, entitled how to handle a heretic handling heresy properly doesn't require knowing the teaching of each false religion but it does require a firm knowledge of the truth. You'll learn more about this today. Stephen resumes his series entitled postcards from John were looking at what the apostle John has to say about handling heresy next. I read recently on the campus of University aside all offer some dinosaur that is the thinking of our day it right. It's okay for you to think you're right.

It's not okay for you to think somebody else is wrong, says it all. The sin by the way, the great sin of our generation is to ever suggest that someone else might be sitting problem is perspective doesn't stop with your restaurant menus or universities on the church in many cases that perspective speaks from behind the pulpit today July, just a few months ago a pastor prayed a prayer of dedication at the opening of a new abortion clinic calling" a holy ground event. The article read how the dedication ceremony was called a celebration of conscience and moral decision-making.

The event would include a promised interfaith blessings, prayer and testimonies about receiving and providing abortion care how you change the word abortion into an act of receiving care to place of death to place where pain and sorrow and guilt begins. We now have documented evidence of three or four women openly struggle over their decision. When a life of their pre-born to read recently that three out of four women went through it, facing intense pressure to do it from others even themselves, other people, boyfriends, husband's parents so maybe it will help us all feel better for change were it's one thing, beloved for the world and the religious world to get a tragically wrong when it comes the moral and ethical issues which can impact the life it's another thing to get a wrong when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, which by the way, forgives all of us for every and any sin we've done you get rid of him. You get rid of forgiveness we we take all of our sin in the gospel through Christ offers us forgiveness. No matter what we done. It's another thing to preach at a different gospel that can determine the trajectory of someone's life that did ultimately lead them to either happen or how this is not a this is not something we wordsmith this is life and death will surprise you to learn that God is assigned to every Christian just pastors and elders and deacons every Christian responsibility to be alert and discerning and fearless in defending speaking the truth as a relates to false teaching. There's a little letter we've been working through go back there. Second, the second letter John actually tells a single mother is her responsibility for turning your attorney for the first time or maybe the first time in a while.

In previous study, we identify false teachers and false religions as those who make the same fundamental error. They are all in some ways, redefining Jesus. This is where it's especially deceptive.

They use the same words they just use a different dictionary so that Jesus is not eternal deity, which by the way they wanted to stone him to death because he was claiming to be God, your gospel account. He's not eternal deity. Let's change that to ease an exalted human. He's not sovereign Lord these is a good man good teacher. He is the only way to the father is one of many new pit.

Whichever way you're comfortable.

So what you do about when you go back to her seven. Here is the primary truth you need to remember you don't have to become an expert in every false religion. Just know that they're all going go off the road at the same intersection and it has to do with Jesus day whose Jesus.

For many deceivers have gone out of world. Those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, there you have it isn't the literal anointed one, the Kristof's Messiah.

He is really the literal God in the flash to change your so at some point again to get what you do about well you keep your eyes open is the first thing you want to do that's worth a study that at length in our last discussion. Watch out stale words don't get distracted from the race. Christ is given uterine so that you forfeit that will reward your salvation as we talked about your full reward your eyes open.

Don't get tripped up by false teaching.

Now for today. John adds a sentence that spells it out further and spend our time here. Keep your eyes open even more specifically. Secondly, keep your door close.

First, if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house. Now this little postcard. John delivers only three commands only 3D we called in the Greek language impaired. The first one is verse a watch out! In your text.

After that, here's the second one do not receive do not receive him into your house to write it! At the end of that phrase, and you might be thinking what that's just rude as faithfully in John's day. When traveling was difficult and dangerous. There were not hotel chains ends were few and far between. Even if you're traveling on the well-paid Roman road.

They were often crowded. They were expensive. They often doubled his brother and they were dangerous. Hospitality would be important to the believing community as they travel these itinerant preachers travel they needed hospitality and so those coming in the name of Jesus and represent him or you could possibly open the door and give them a base of operations. That's why he's warning this woman about that.

We were told in Hebrews 13 to were to show hospitality to strangers, you might actually end up entertaining an angel. That's true. John now here is warning the Christian, you might end up entertaining the devil. Be careful. So what's the balance will gives us a couple of clues. First, he uses the verb for to come if anyone comes to you that construction means someone is arriving at your home with a purpose in mind the idea their arrival is intentional.

They are just, you know, caught in traffic stuck in your little village and they need hospitality safe refuge for the night and and you're not going to let them in, because you have them a little car. The theological boxes objectively can't pass this bill, arriving at your door with a theological purpose to deceive.

The idea behind the how we know that John gives us a much more obvious reason. Keep the door shut as they arrive at your door and they do not bring this teaching this dedicate translated doctrine in your New Testament never done this is the reference to the apostolic faith. The teaching that delivered through Jesus that delivered through his his apostles is the same word used by Matthew with his regarding Jesus delivering a sermon on the Mount.

The text tells us that when Jesus finished these words, he finished his sermon. The crowds were amazed at his teaching same word. This is the warning of Paul to the Roman believers same warnings as I urge you brother your eyes on those because dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching same word would you turn away from. Don't mess around with them. They are giving you teaching but is not this teaching is false teachers are coming to you with different teaching regarding Jesus Christ is deity. His virgin birth is sufficient atonement for the resurrection and his ascension from innocent, and all that wrapped up in this idea come to you with something other than the right. Jesus maybe at this point you're wondering how you lead people to Christ. If you can't invite them into your home. Does this mean you can't have unbelievers over for a meal.

No talk more about that John was commanding his will to do is to refuse to offer ongoing hospitality to the false teacher who comes in with a different teaching other than what they length of the apostles about Jesus and he wants to set up class in your living as we stop. It's one thing for you to invite an unbeliever into your home where you talk to them. It's another thing where you invite the minute and you're just gonna listen to what that say to you, you might open a conversation with what you believe it might begin that way that that's fine, but eventually it turns around and you're the one talking wife because they want to make a disciple, but so you and if your house so you're the disciple listen to the words of Ignatius, a leader in the first century, a rather lively, colorful writer who probably knew the apostle John personally. He writes I have learned that certain people from their have passed your way with. But you did not allow them to sew it among you.

That's the idea you cover-up your readers in order to avoid receiving the things things so by them.

I'm guarding you in advance against wild beasts in human form men whom you must not only not well, but if possible. Not even meet. They are mad dog bites by deception, you must be on your guard against them for their bite is hard to heal. You never invite a rabid dog in your living room units at their nice talking or feral cat don't want to. False teachers set up shop in your living.

Don't open the door to them. Keep that door close. Here's how you handle a heretic.

Keep your eyes open your door close. Thirdly, this is the third command. Keep your wallet shut the last phrase in verse 10 says and do not give him a greeting for the want to give them a greeting participates in his evil deeds that are Western years that really sounds rude. It sounds like it's telling us we can you say hello whenever we see them don't say hello. You know he's even Walmart will make eye contact that I didn't see that savory people used to go to church with these not talking about that here is referring to an affectionate greeting that implies approval kinship were in the family of God together riding in the family. God, the gospel of Jesus that they believe a different Jesus are not of the family. This is what John is referring affect the word for greeting here has has the nuance of joy and excitement because your related this is that the same word that James opens his letter to half-brother Jesus bit.

He's writing to the converted Jews scattered abroad and he says greetings there's July in that grieving. That's how you are people that you know know Jesus. You see them in there there's there's kinship and joy and that connection. This is the same word by the way used in the New Testament not only as a greeting, but as a farewell, some of my friends in my studying Greek scholars suggest that this is actually a reference to farewell.

We translated in old English from old English the word God speed don't wish them God speed. We shorten that we we say goodbye.

Don't don't give them an affectionate welcome and when you discover that they follow false Jesus be carefully even in the way you say goodbye and whatever you do don't support them. Don't enable them with your gifts.

The character. A promise at some point along the way, something they can't deliver.

In fact, I believe it was Ignatius who claimed the Braves were the word Christ monger he used to reference the false teachers they are Christ monger that is selling their version of Jesus because they want your money and boy things that to this day that does watching one of them sometime ago on cable television. I evidently had way too much time on my hands servant must've been finish though I was in watching and and he was making this really audacious claim and it peaked my interest. But he's making this promise that he has apostolic power and justice. People touch the handkerchief of Paul. If we would send them some money. He would send us one of his handkerchief that that was pretty interesting to me that got my attention.

First of all it cost a fortune to send the handkerchiefs to everybody Road in and gave money and I know he wasn't interested in spending a fortune.

He wanted to make a fortune so I sent them a block to see what would happen if I got an envelope in the mail about a week later and inside was a letter thanking me for my gift, and then he invited me to hold the handkerchief and I'm looking for that connection is not a handkerchief in there and I unfolded a little further now felt this little 2" x 2" piece of paper that had printed on the checkered pattern so it looked like. I think his handkerchief was just as phony as he was could not think how many people emptied their account open to be. John says, you keep your wallet). Those eventually don't want your money don't support them bring this a little closer to home. Don't sit in their congregation while they deny the word of God. While they deny moral standard. Ironic Christians are keeping dead churches from closing and unconverted pastors business instead of walking out they put money in the offering plate and then the end of the sermon. I going to get handed a nice sermon, even though in their spirit. They are trouble. These not talk to many genuine believers are trouble because that denying the moral standard of God's denying the inspiration of Scripture is denying the exclusive claims of the gospel. He will not stand up for the truth and speak against sin.

Well-meaning Christians put money in that church is offering plate and pay that guy's salary and shake his hand on the way out. I can't tell you the truckload of people and I've talked to my years here in this town and tell me I'd love to come. The you know your church, but I just need to be alive over at my liberal church just a light in a dark place. Love it.never intended any Christian to enter the mission field by going to church. That's not the mission field is not supposed to be a dark place, don't keep it afloat. You tell your friends I said don't support that wayward churches don't support that biblical pastor, make him go hungry. You to invite these false teachers into her home. This woman would have given them food given them an opportunity to speak to the church that more than likely met in her home. No wonder John was passionate in this! Keep your wallet shut John right if you don't notice you become a partaker in their evil deeds uses the word for particular coin in the work-family fellowship and I know you don't think you are what you are, you enable them in their false gospel price denying you any way shape or form you are partaking you are fellowship thing in their evil. You are actually encouraging the spreading of false teaching by your support. Let me tell you what that would be like that would be like saying that occultist as they leave your front porch.

By the way they're willing to listen. Talk all you can eventually they're not there to listen.

Though there to talk but I usually try to get as much as I can. But before they leave that be like me saying hey before you leave Friday that God will bless you as you make your way through my neighborhood God speak no I would. I would like to say to them, you're not going to make headway in my house and all my neighbors and their meaner than I am.

I do not of this neighborhood environment. I've heard one Puritan author wrote on this text.

Nearly 200 years ago, have no religious connection with them nor act towards him so as to induce others to believe you acknowledge him as a brother to the reason your pastor teacher doesn't do other things with other pastors often have been asked to do a lot of things. I will not get on a platform with a guy he was unconverted pastor but studied any way shape or form tell the flock symbol that I can source that unbeliever again, this doesn't mean you know you bring in unbeliever in your home for Thanksgiving dinner and you may consider on the backboard for you. My somebody you nonbeliever to church and they said a lot of you can't invite a skeptic into your home for transparent conversation discussion on the claims of Jesus Christ. And that's disciple make really going to the home of an unbeliever for for coffee or or or for dinner. Jesus did see he was on the disciple making mission solely this relates to giving a false teacher and opening and in this woman's case, giving them a potential base of operation for their anti-gospel disciple making mission. Keep your door close. Keep your wallet shut me out to do so on point.

Is this really takes us back into the word of God, the teaching of God's word. This is the teaching we follow to it it it it calls us back to what does this teaching say whereby we can evaluate other teaching it it it calls us to study it with renewed passion and doctrinal precision in the world has brought those lines that we live. I read recently about a man whose profession is called comfort is comfort in layman's terms. He is a coffee taste be great profession is taste buds of actually been certified by his home state's author said so refined over years of practice is his discerning sense of taste that even while blindfolded he could take one sip of coffee and tell you not just that it's from Guatemala but how high the altitude and on what mountain you become proficient at whatever it is you study and you practice to be a workman in the word learn how to study it well interpreted correctly so you won't be a shame that is led astray tripped up deceived by false teaching. Second Timothy 215 John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in the early 1700s wrote this in his journal.

God is condescended to teach me. He has written it down in a book of give me that book at any price give me the book of God. Let me be a man of one when I got a hell a heretic.

Keep your eyes open your door closed, wallet shut Bibles open. That's good advice today from this is wisdom for the heart are Bible teacher Stephen Devi is committed to helping you understand God's word and showing you how it applies to your life. I hope you'll make listening to these lessons a part of your daily routine and I pray that God will use them to equip you the lesson you heard today comes from a brand-new series called postcards from John in this series Stephen teachers verse by verse through the second and third epistles of John. Today's lesson is called how to handle a heretic. I want to make you aware of something in case you haven't come across this before. A few years ago we started filming video of Stephen preaching these messages and we make those videos available to you on our website.

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